Tag Archives: Sagittarius

Post navigation

Aimee Mullins is a Paralympic Athlete, actress, model, innovator, and TED talker. To me, she’s the epitome of inspiration to get motivated and moving forward no matter what you have in front of you to accomplish.

I’ve been waiting for this day for quite some time… actually for a little over 2 1/2 months! Mars finally begins his forward motion today after being Retrograde since April 17.

Yay!!

A Mars Retrograde period occurs about every two years & two months, and when it does, it seems to put breaks on around areas of your life that you had been feeling a great sense of vitality and progress around. The things that you were taking positive action toward may have since receded into the distance a bit, but not because you haven’t been trying. And if you’ve been trying too hard, you may have been feeling that you’re knocking your head against a wall. (As a comparison point think back to the last Mars Retrograde: March – May 2014)

Let’s look back. During March and the beginning of April 2016 you may recall feeling pretty excited about something that you expected would take off at that point, and become something pretty amazing. And then mid-April came along with Mars stationing Retrograde, and your project may have begun to lose momentum, but the polish was only a little chipped and hope was still intact. Then over the past several weeks, you may have begun to experience doubt, or even started thinking about giving up.

That means it’s time to stop, reflect, ruminate! If you haven’t done those yet – which is what the Mars Retrograde wanted you to do – then do them now. Maybe the project is sound and you just need to take action on it differently – or take it in a different direction. Maybe the project is sound, but it’s not for you – though it could be for someone else – in which case, be honest with yourself and be willing to share it or pass it on. Maybe this project needs some work, and you need to go back to the drawing board so you know how to better take action to get wings under it. And just maybe, the project isn’t a great one to move forward with. In which case Mars Retrograde has saved you the time, energy, and resources required to push forward with something that wouldn’t be a sound bet.

That’s what this 10 week Mars Retrograde period has been all about. The question has been (and is until we’re out of the shadow period on Aug. 22), “Are you taking right action on the right thing?”

Erin Sullivan said in the book Retrograde Planets: Traversing the Inner Landscape, “The slow burn that the transit of Mars retrograde engenders can either be corrosive and psychologically depleting or it can free up frustrated energy.” If that’s the case, then there may have been a different perspective for some folks during this period of time… “or it can free up frustrated energy.” I take that to mean that if prior to the Mars retrograde you were feeling stuck, then during the retrograde you may have come back to right action for yourself. Appropriate action. In which case I applaud you! The idea now will be to continue your momentum as Mars begins his forward motion again.

So, now that you know the logistics, what are the particulars of this Mars Direct? First, Mars has been retrograde in two signs – Scorpio and Sagittarius. Scorpio goes deep, and Sagittarius finds meaning and wisdom… so do those two things around how you take action in your life. To know where precisely in your life you are impacted by this event, I’d have to know your specific birthchart. If you’re interested in understanding the areas of your life that are being impacted by the Mars Retrograde/Mars Direct, then please contact me for a session and we’ll dive in. 🙂 (If you have the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars or any of the angles – ASC, MC, DESC, IC – in Aries, then this Mars Retrograde is a turning point for you.)

Second, since since the beginning of June, Mars has been in a connection of ease and flow with the centaur Chiron. (I sometimes refer to this connection, the trine of 120 degrees between planets, as the lazy aspect.) This connection brings idling energy to our past actions and how those actions have created habitual patterns in our lives currently – and with this non-agitated connection it may seem ok to continue in these habits of action, or inaction, as the case may be. However, the square between these two is hard on our heels (Sept. 2016), and at this point we are tested, and the reality of what occurred during the Mars retrograde comes to the fore. During September we must come to terms with whether we continue our ingrained habits of how we connect with our desires, the ways we implement our will, and take action from these two aspects of our personality – OR – we take on the challenge of making changes, so that we take action to get what we want in ways that are congruent with who we are now – rather than who we used to be. This is an awakening challenge… an opportunity to really move forward in a more evolved way. Anytime Chiron is involved elements, traits, events, people, and our own wounds may come up from the past. When Mars is the trigger, then it’s all about taking action to balance, correct, resolve, and heal.

I hope this is helpful information as we start to rev things up again! As Mars moves forward, so can we! And when Mars trines the Sun again in 18 days on July 16, all of the excitement and confidence that we felt this past March might just be full throttle again! If not, then certainly by August 22 when Mars finally passes out of the shadow of when the retrograde began. So, get ready… get set… and move forward in RIGHT action.

Out of the Shadow: August 22, 2016 – Mars finally reaches the same degree upon which it went retrograde

Mars and Chiron were trine in Feb 2016Mars and Chiron were trine in June 2016Mars and Chiron will be trine in July 2016Mars and Chiron will be square in Sept. 2016Mars and Chiron will be sextile in Oct. 2016

Welcome to the second Full Moon in Sagittarius (7:02 AM EDT today, June 20, 2016) in a row… that’s pretty unusual! This Moon is called The Strawberry Moon, signifying to our early Native Americans that it was time to pick ripened fruit. (Maybe we can use that symbolism metaphorically. What ripened fruit is it time for you to pick?) This Full Moon also occurs at the 29th degree of Sagittarius, with the Sun at the 29th degree of Gemini, which is a very special degree. Add to that the Summer Solstice beginning today when the Sun moves into Cancer at 6:34 PM EDT, and we have very exciting energies to explore!

There are several different ways to come to this Full Moon. First I invite you to think back to 6 months ago, specifically Dec. 11, 2015, when the Moon was New in Sagittarius. Can you remember anything that you may have been excited or anxious about? Anything you were just beginning or making decisions on? Today is a culmination of that time, a moment of en-lighten-ment around whatever was going on in your life then. I also invite you to look back to a little over a year ago – May 2, 2015. This was the last Sagittarius Full moon until last month’s (on May 21) – so we’ve come a full year’s cycle since then. What has occurred for you emotionally during the past year? Track back and really think about what has come to fruition for you, and whether you have evolved in meaningful ways emotionally – perhaps pushing past boundaries and creating higher, broader parameters, which is what the Sagittarius Moon requests of us. Or perhaps you’ve devolved? In which case, you have another opportunity to become unstuck and get moving.

Second, this Full Moon in Sagittarius at the critical 29th degree seems to be highlighting relationships pretty “loudly.” With this fiery Moon in opposition to Venus, the planet of all things “love” and the ways of being that go with it, there’s an immediate understanding that this lunar event impacts us where we relate to others. Add to that a square to Chiron, our friendly karmic relationship indicator, as well as a trine to Juno, who wears the crown of symbolizing relationship from a karmic commitment perspective, and we have a relationship karmic cocktail. Juno, amazingly, is also at that 29th degree – of Libra in her case – which just happens to be the sign of, you guessed it, relationship. That critical 29th degree carries the energy of taking a new direction, sometimes in a completely unexpected way that belies our past ruminations and carefully laid plans. (And don’t get me wrong, I’m thinking positive here!) Degree 29 can carry a fated quality to it, and sometimes has us feeling a bit out of control. So there can be questions around our commitments, or, and better, opportunities to refresh them!

One other ally in this cosmic lunar posse pushing us to “clean” our love auras is Uranus – that feisty renegade who calls it like he sees it, and breaks down the status quo. So at this Saggy Full Moon, I’m imagining there may be some culminating moments providing us opportunities to clear our love alliances, particularly those with whom we carry karma. There can be enormous healing during this Full Moon energy… healing that allows us to attend to our loved ones with more acceptance of their uniqueness. Healing that opens the doors of the past and the future, asking us to balance our need for freedom and independence within relationship with our deep caring and devotion of our loved ones. This isn’t the time to be proud or stubborn, but a time to talk, to risk the truth, to stand by our commitments in a more faith-ful way, in order to create something more authentic – something that feeds our vitality and our emotional health. For many, I know there’s a whole lot of YUMMY that can happen with this Full Moon…

Thirdly, Mercury is also at 29 degrees in this Full Moon chart… and it’s creating a trigger point to the Saturn / Neptune square. How does this land? We need to talk. We need to talk about what makes us feel safe and secure. We need to talk about what confuses us, and about our pasts – not to create an environment of judgement, but to create an environment of acceptance and grace. Let’s get past the fears and anxieties that are holding us back (Saturn), be open about our dreams and our vision for the future (Neptune), and create a goal for our compassion – a goal for our spiritual evolution. And then make a commitment to it! You know what happens when we make a real commitment. All heaven and earth move to support it… And with Jupiter also involved in this mix, we can truly benefit from positive thinking here.

Fourthly (and I’m about to get political) I like to think of Sagittarius as being “the citizen of the world.” That’s the phrase that Banzhaf & Haebler use in the book Key Words for Astrology as the by-line for Sagittarius. “The citizen of the world.” That’s always stuck in my mind. In the past 30 days we’ve been sandwiched between two culminating points – two Full Moons in the sign Sagittarius – highlighting who we are as citizens of the world. And with the deadliest mass shooting in the history of our country just behind us, we are left pondering – at least I hope we are – how we go about being better citizens of our world. Perhaps that’s the reason we’ve had two Sagittarius Full Moons in a row… so that we must use this emotionally charged energy to become wiser citizens of the world – to become righteous about gun control despite previous blocks preventing that effort, to become higher minded around, and more tolerant of, those who have different lifestyles. The 15-hour gun control filibuster on the the Senate floor this past Thursday, led by Senator Chris Murphy, is a perfect example of Sagittarius energy “having enough” and “stump thumping” to make a point of justice. And sadly, the horrific actions of the shooter are also an example of the lowest possible vibration of Sagittarius at work – being so self-righteous and filled with the fervor of your cause that you take life, feeling somehow justified in your actions. The shooting and the filibuster occurred between 2 Sagittarius Full Moons, the second one at the critical 29th degree – meaning we’ve reached a critical turning point, and while we may not follow any plans we’ve previously put in place, and we may be feeling overwhelmed – we know we must go in a new direction. Fate is in play here, and that new direction must have greater meaning and a higher purpose, and point us toward freedom and justice – for everyone – as we move forward. All Sagittarian qualities. (An interesting point: the 1:58 AM chart for the Orlando shooting, when the first gunfire was heard, has THE SAME DEGREE – 29 degrees Sagittarius – on the MC – the most elevated point in the chart, which is the angle that shows how we see that moment in the greater world. Blows my mind.)

The key here is meaning… what expanded awareness and meaning can we derive from these events, and how do we move positively forward with that meaning? And how do we derive wisdom from something so horrifying? The comedian Hasan Minhaj addressed members of the press and members of Congress at the 72nd Annual Radio and Television Correspondents’ Association Dinner this past Wednesday evening – 3 nights after the shooting. He said something in his address -a very Sagittarius address I might add – that seems to push us toward the higher vibration of Sag – striving for higher things, and expanding our awareness. He said, “Stuff like this (the mass shooting) is going to continue to happen unless we recognize that civil liberties are an all or nothing game. A rising tide lifts all boats. It’s not pick or choose. So whether you like it or not, we all have to step up and fight for each other – otherwise the whole thing is a sham.” A “rising tide” pulled by these Sagittarius Moons. That’s what I’m thinking. It all seems quite a bit zeitgeist-y.

(If you want to see comedian Hasan Minhaj’s full address click here. The first 18 minutes are funny in a “roast” kind of way. The famous 5 minutes begin at 18:16 – but watch the whole 23 minutes if you can.)

Fifthly – Happy Summer Solstice! The Solstice officially happens at 6:34 PM when the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer. As the longest day of the year, with more hours of sunlight than any other, most of us wait all year for this special day. It’s the FUN time of year! But as I mentioned previously, this Sagittarius Full Moon occurs at 29 degrees. The 29th degree of any sign is known as a “critical degree” or the “anaretic degree” meaning we’re coming to the end of one way of being and moving into another – a complete change of direction. Sometimes that change feels fated, or out of our control, but the change needs to happen. So as you’re soaking in the sun, soak in the meaning of this Full Moon as you think about your Summer. How will you be changing directions? What is your highest calling? Toward what direction will you be shooting your arrow of intent, and where will you be seeking meaning and purpose? This bright moon, this enlightened moment, is the perfect time to answer these questions.

P.S. It’s interesting to have a Full Moon in Sagittarius – the sign connected with the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year – on the longest day of the year! Here we are in the fullness of Summer with the Sun at it’s highest point (in the Northern Hemisphere), while the emotional energy around us is reminiscent of the shortest. Hhhhhhmmmmm. That just occurred to me – not quite sure what to do with it yet, but I’m thinking.

Chart for the Full Moon in Sagittarius – 7:02 AM, June 20, 2016 Eastern Daylight Time

Want some personal one-on-one help with navigating this Full Moon? Wondering where in your life and your psyche you’re being impacted? I’m happy to help! Please simply fill in the Client Info Form here, and we can set up an Individual Session. Looking forward to it!

Here’s the quick shake out for your Saturday, June 11, 2016 (Eastern Time.)
(I’m having a bit of fun with this one!)

Stay in bed until about 9am because the Moon in Virgo is in opposition to Neptune in Pisces, and all we really want to do is dream and fantasize anyway. Tell yourself that it’s ok to stay in bed, because the Virgo piece of this equation might feel guilty… a nice compromise would be to lay in bed in your half sleep, analyzing and making plans. 🙂

Then get up about 10am and really get down to weekend chores quickly to use the practical, get it done energy of the Moon squaring Saturn in Sagittarius – if you don’t get down to work, then you might just feel stuck and end up procrastinating (or feeling sorry for yourself.) The Moon isn’t only squaring Saturn… it’s also opposing Neptune. So there could be a bit of a quandary about whether to get something done, or whether to wallow a bit longer. Push, pull. Push, pull. Don’t use the energy that way! Best case scenario, do a lovely meditation, or sit outside in Nature to get centered, and THEN get down to business.

As the moon moves away from the Saturn/Neptune energy, make some afternoon plans for about 2pm, because just after that Luna gets a lot happier when she connects with Jupiter… shake off the dreams of the morning and all those chores (or the wishing that you’d actually done them) and just do something that makes you feel really good. Be social… Venus is still connected to the Sun today.

After a nice big dinner, get cozy in your hidey hole and do some deep pondering, or even some research, about what you want your future to hold. The Moon is conjuncting the North Node and making a trine to Pluto, so dig deep, tell yourself the truth, and lean into your purpose. If you think something in your immediate vicinity is holding you back… throw it away! This can be literal, emotional, or metaphorical, but when Pluto is tapping at our emotions, he likes us to purge. And ponder. And go about the business of evolving…

And if you’re sharing your evening with another, expect emotions to run deeply – and maybe even passionately.

(Pre-Shadow: May 4 – May 18; Mercury Retrograde: May 18 – June 11;Post-Shadow: June 11 – June 27, 2015)

There are SO many ways to look at this powerful Mercury Retrograde in Gemini that’s coming right up, especially with this dynamic Neptune influence… I’ll start with this in case you don’t make it past the first paragraph: First, the practical advice: BACK UP all your data, no matter where it lives or how secure you think it is. Get your tires and your oil changed and your 5,000 mile check-up. Replace that head gasket or that timing belt that you’ve been putting off – but do it quick. Now the good stuff: If you have a spiritual practice, turn to it fully and embrace it wholeheartedly – it will support you beautifully now. (If you don’t, and have always wanted to, then go get one – prayer, meditation, yoga.) It’s not the time to embark on a completely new idea or project, but if you have artistic or design talents that have been sitting on a shelf, take them down and dust them off. If you’re planning to travel… perhaps rethink your plans until later-ish June, unless your journey is spiritual, compassionate (I’m thinking about Nepal), or artistic in nature. If you’re thinking of signing a contract or pushing a project, it’s truly time to step away, allow the Gods their due, and get a more artistic, more inspired, more elegant appraisal of what you’re doing and what you’re expecting – and listen to your intuition around this process – instead of what your ego craves. If you’re musical or poetic and haven’t been practicing, GO! Give you instrument and your voice free reign! If you have addictive tendencies or are prone to overdo ANY feel good props, it’s time discover that inner strength you know is there and just say no. And if you’re into intellectual, inspired beauty, boy howdy, this is the time for you. Deeply connect to that beauty and love…

We’ve been in the pre-shadow period of Mercury Retrograde since May 4. So even though Mercury doesn’t officially go retrograde until May 18 (just 2 days from now!) for all intents and purposes, WE’RE ALREADY IN IT, and have been for almost 2 weeks. Probably not a surprise to those of you who are sensitive to this one.

I started hearing the lamentable stories right at the beginning of May… and simultaneously began to hear the incredulous question, “Why does it feel like Mercury is retrograde?” I was surprised at first, knowing the retrograde was a couple of weeks away, but when I started looking at it I realized how this particular retrograde is probably a precocious one. 🙂

Understand then that from a FEELING PERSPECTIVE Mercury IS and HAS BEEN retrograde since May 4. The trickster planet is really slowing down in its orbit right now, which is the initiation into the actual retrograde. And that phenomenon is made extravagant by the fact that Mercury is in its own sign of Gemini – the sign it naturally rules. AND, Mercury is in a square aspect to Neptune… confused much? That’s frequently what Neptune combined with Mercury brings on when operating at the lower vibrational level… lots of confusion and chaos in processing information, communicating effectively, memory, travel, technology, basic intellectual understanding, etc. etc. etc. So even without the retrograde motion of Mercury, due to the connection between Mercury and Neptune, we have this type of non-focused energy as a base line…

AND THAT’S WHY YOU WANT TO ELEVATE THE ENERGY. Consciously operate from the higher vibration level of Mercury Retrograde in its own sign of Gemini squaring Neptune.

HOW??? is obviously the question.

This is all truly about the God Mind, so the answer is by doing the suggestions I gave earlier: connect to God(s) and your spiritual core; align with your artistry – whatever form that takes; surrender your ego and listen to your intuition (it will pay off I promise). TELL YOUR STORY WITH TRUE FEELING… because in the telling will arise insights and aha’s that need to be pulled from your unconsciousness.

Let your thoughts, your speech, your writing, the way you move through your life reflect the goodness within you. If you’re having a hard time connecting with that loving place within, then mentally AND emotionally go inside… Mercury Retrograde is the king of digging deep and coming back with amazing personal insights that inform the current energy pattern.

During this time, between now and June 27 (when we’re past the post-shadow), if you’re challenged by a choice between logic and compassion – go with compassion. The purpose behind this retrograde is to learn to find the peace of compassion and grace despite a busy mind; to connect to your inner divinity even while questioning everything; to engage your dream now and in a few weeks give it a voice rather than simply staying in the dreaming. The goal is to rest and restore your mind with indulgences into fantasy and beauty so that they can inform your future with a new, divinely inspired perspective.

Obviously this Mercury Retrograde impacts everyone, but if you have the Sun, Moon, or personal planets in Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius or Pisces, this Mercury Retrograde is especially for you! 🙂

To get you in the proper head and heart space for this Mercury Retrograde, please enjoy watching this video: 40 Acts of Compassion
I promise you’ll love it!

That lustrous orb that sweeps our oceans to and fro is also the harbinger who describes and defines our day-to-day fluctuating energy. As the face of the Moon is ever changing, so are the feelings and intuitions that push and pull us through our daily rounds. The sign of the Zodiac the Moon occupies changes about every 2-and-a-half-days and as she orbits she makes different connections to other planets, touching all of them in different ways as she speeds her way through the sky. Each of us will resonate to the energies of the flirting, capricious Luna in different ways and with different reactions according to the energies of our own birthcharts – our own dispositions and levels of consciousness. However, this comes as a guide to help you understand which fickle face our Lady Moon is showing today.

If you know your birthchart, or at least your Sun, Moon, or Rising signs (or better yet – all three – and if you don’t know any of them, maybe it’s time for you to send me an email) knowing where the Moon is playing and who she’s playing with will help you understand how to navigate your day and why you may be feeling the way you are or why you’re having the reactions or responses that you’re having.

I’m going to try to write this everyday for you – or at least, most days. No promises being made here, but I hope the days I manage it, that you’ll find some peace, and maybe even gain a little edge, in knowing. I want to dedicate this effort to Kat. She told me that she missed my posts. So Kat – this if for you. If any of you enjoy this lovingly crafted energetic gift – please let me know! It will help to keep me motivated to continue…

(The above 3 paragraphs will be repeated each “By the Light of the Moon” post, so if you’ve read it before and know it by heart, just skip to the stuff after the … All times given in this column are Eastern time. )

I’m posting today for both Saturday and Sunday, Jan 12 and 13… just because I don’t want to write tomorrow. 🙂 A day off after 5 on will feel good.

The Moon is in Aquarius both days as of 4:01 AM Eastern time today. The feeling is quirky, upbeat and erratic. It’s time to tune into yourself as unique, and tap into what you have to offer that is original – whatever is yours and yours alone to give. The more your gifts are intended for the greater good the better. The need to be independent and free could pervade the weekend… particularly for those of us who are naturally geared that way; those of us with planets and points strongly associated with Uranus, Jupiter or Mars, or in the signs Aquarius, Sagittarius and Aries. It could be easy to detach emotionally these next couple of days – or we could notice others near us pulling away, needing some space. Just know that it’s not you… it’s that energy of Aquarius that asks us to detach for the long-view perspective.

The Moon is approaching Mars today and will make direct contact early, early tomorrow morning, so I’d say that there’s a chance that tempers could rise. Things could get pretty heated. Alternatively, there could simply be an abundance of high energy to tap into. The need for something new, exciting – some fresh air – is pervasive. With Venus squaring Uranus – expect the unexpected when it comes to relating with those you’re closest to, and with what you’re willing to spend your money on. You might find something out of the blue, think it’s absolutely irresistible and make an impulse buy. ‘Course, you could do that with a lover as well! Sudden splits and sudden attractions… that’s the feeling. Just bear in mind that these impulses are TEMPORARY and don’t make any outrageous decisions unless a catalyst is what you’ve been waiting for.

For the majority of us, it’s a great time to simply take advantage of some bright, happy, upbeat energy that offers a much needed lightness of being. Intelligent discourse is a possibility as well as unexpected dazzling new ideas from your emotional genius. Give them space to breathe and take life!

Oh! Keep in mind the Moon is Void-of-Course ALL DAY on Sunday– 3:37 AM until 8:20 AM Eastern time on Monday, a couple of hours after the Moon moves into Pisces. During a Void Moon it’s best not to jump whole heartedly into left brain activities. The right brain – our creative side – is much more comfortable at these times! Expectations are likely not to be met during a Void, and it’s easy to “miss the boat.” Don’t plan important practical, logical, linear, or legal stuff during this time, and don’t push a situation expecting to get what you want. That might be a challenge with that challenging Venus/Uranus connection this weekend, so just be aware! And logical, linear stuff is the stuff of Aquarius, so enjoy that irony. (For more on the Void-of-Course Moon click here.)

Have fabulous weekend! See you on Monday!

Hey! If you want to be sure not to miss any of the future posts of “By the Light of the Moon” please find the box on the right of any page on this site that says “Follow Astrology with Michelle Gregg via Email” and click “Follow Me!”

OR

Go to my Facebook page, Astrology with Michelle Greggand give me a like! Then anytime I post, the goods will show up in your Facebook Home scroll.

The fiery, optimistic and far reaching energy of Sagittarius is beautifully rendered in this gorgeous illustration.

That lustrous orb that sweeps our oceans to and fro is also the harbinger who describes and defines our day-to-day fluctuating energy. As the face of the Moon is ever changing, so are the feelings and intuitions that push and pull us through our daily rounds. The sign of the Zodiac the Moon occupies changes about every 2-and-a-half-days and as she orbits she makes different connections to other planets, touching all of them in different ways as she speeds her way through the sky. Each of us will resonate to the energies of the flirting, capricious Luna in different ways and with different reactions according to the energies of our own birthcharts – our own dispositions and levels of consciousness. However, this comes as a guide to help you understand which fickle face our Lady Moon is showing today.

If you know your birthchart, or at least your Sun, Moon, or Rising signs (or better yet – all three – and if you don’t know any of them, maybe it’s time for you to send me an email) knowing where the Moon is playing and who she’s playing with will help you understand how to navigate your day and why you may be feeling the way you are or why you’re having the reactions or responses that you’re having.

I’m going to try to write this everyday for you – or at least, most days. No promises being made here, but I hope the days I manage it, that you’ll find some peace, and maybe even gain a little edge, in knowing. I want to dedicate this effort to Kat. She told me that she missed my posts. So Kat – this if for you. If any of you enjoy this lovingly crafted energetic gift – please let me know! It will help to keep me motivated to continue…

(The above 3 paragraphs will be repeated each By the Light of the Moon post, so if you’ve read it before and know it by heart, just skip to the stuff after the … )

The Moon is in Sagittarius today – the early degrees having just moved into Sag this morning at 3:28 AM Eastern time.

Ah! The Moon in Sag! This is fiery intellectual energy… pushing for more, wanting to expand and grow wherever it is, and then hopping to the next thing with confidence and optimism. Remember that the Moon describes what’s going on emotionally – so this emotional moment in time is one of enthusiasm, seeking justice, feeling good and wanting to explore. There’s a hefty dose of idealism in our hearts with this Lunar placement, especially if we naturally resonate to that sort of thing. Sag energy loves to be praised and to share its opinions… so you may find yourself either soap boxing or expected to listen to someone else waxing eloquent on their beliefs. Independence is a keynote of Sagittarius, and the need to run forward with an idea or a moral judgement can be in the air. Expect there to be some seeking for meaning going on and a bit of zealous sanctimoniousness could be witnessed as well. Mostly though, Sag wants to enjoy herself and to know that she’s here for a good, hopefully higher, reason – and that belief is extended to everyone else. There’s a lot of pleasure to be experienced when Luna passes through this happy sign, so tap into that!

Today the Moon opposes Uranus – putting ants in our pants or creating the desire for something new and outside-the-box. She also opposes Jupiter, the Ruler of Sagittarius really expanding and exacerbating everything I wrote in the paragraph above, intensifying the natural tendencies of Sagittarius, so watch that you don’t overextend or get yourself overwhelmed. (Did I just do that by starting this column?? Yikes!) And today’s Moon also makes an opportunistic sextile to Mars – lending us extra, and possibly much needed energy, and jump-starting our ambition and desires to fulfill ourselves.

If you’re a fiery person – with the Sun, Moon or other personal planets in the fire signs of Aries, Leo or Sagittarius, or an Airy person, with the Sun, Moon or other personal planets in Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius you’ll probably be feeling pretty pumped today. Your spirit can be validated and energized by this vibrant lunar encounter.

If you’re an earthy person – with the Sun, Moon or other personal planets in the earth signs of Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn, or a Watery sort with the Sun, Moon or other personal planets in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces open up a bit to the Sagittarius optimism and let it lift you – energize you! It might make you feel outside of your routine or comfort zone a bit… but let it stretch you and see what’s possible!

Please understand that it’s very challenging to gauge your responses to the current impacting energy without knowing and understanding your full birthchart… but opening up and finding your willingness to explore is the key for today.

Have fun!

The Moon will be in Sagittarius until 3:54 AM Eastern time on January 10th when it moves into Capricorn. That’s when you get to put your responsible face on!

Hey! If you want to be sure not to miss all the future posts of “By the Light of the Moon” please find the box on the right of any page on my site that says “Follow Astrology with Michelle Gregg via Email” and click “Follow Me!”

OR

Go to my Facebook page, Astrology with Michelle Greggand give me a like! Then anytime I post, the goods will show up in your Facebook Home scroll.

I’m doing something special this month for the New Moon in Sagittarius meditation… I didn’t write this one, but rather I’m sharing one written by John Matthews. It’s called The Sun at Midwinter and you can find it in his book titled The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas. (Here it is onAmazon.)

Now I know that the Winter Solstice occurs when the Sun moves into Capricorn… but this meditation seems so appropriate to the energy of the New Moon in Sagittarius that I couldn’t resist sharing it tonight.

I don’t have a written copy of this meditation – so I hope you’ll listen to it as I’ve recorded it.

Since I wasn’t able to share the written version of the meditation, I thought I’d share the written transcript of the actual New Moon in Sagittarius TeleClass that we shared just a few minutes ago. Enjoy! And know that this is what you can expect if you ever decide to join us for future New Moon calls! Happy Holidays to you!

Hey Everybody!!

I’m Michelle Gregg and I’ve been a Counseling Astrologer for about 18 years. My work is a bit like therapy in that I usually work with folks over a period of time, rather than just in one session. I do that as well, though I most love working with people over time. That’s the way we work through those issues!

I use the teachings of Carl Jung along with astrology, mythological stories, meditation, dialoguing with the Gods, and anything else I can think of to help you get to where you want to be. I love to help people, so this work is very fulfilling!

I’m in Atlanta GA, and I can work with anyone anywhere in the world via phone or Skype. I’d LOVE to work with each and every of you so your gift for being here with me this evening is that you get 20% off any consultation that you schedule with me between now and the Full Moon in Cancer on December 28. I SO hope you’ll take advantage of that! If you want a consultation go to the page on my site (www.michellegregg.com) that says Client Info Form and follow those instructions. Easy Peasy! This offer is only for you folks on the call – so that means you are very special to me and I’m very grateful to you for being here with me now.

Let me just say that at least part of the reason I do these classes and meditations is because I’d love to be able to help you with your individual concerns by seeing you in personal consultation. That’s why I offer my sessions to you at such a great discount. No one has decided to take advantage of that offer yet however, and I’m wondering if any of you have any feedback on the class or have any ideas around that?

So couple things about being on the call.

If you want to mute yourself so that the rest of us can’t hear you or your background noise, then just press 4*. You can unmute yourself by pressing 4* again.

If you want to ask a question or make a comment press 5*. That way I can see that you want to speak and I’ll ask you to go ahead – it’s like raising your hand. I think this evening though, unless something happens, I’m just going to leave all the lines unmuted (though you can mute yourself like I said before if you want to). That way you can just jump in with questions and comments whenever you’d like. I really don’t mind being interrupted and as a matter of fact I’d love your participation.

Another thing is that I’m going to ask you to take your shoes off for the meditation (if it’s not too cold now!) so if you’re comfortable with that, feel free to go ahead and slip them off. And since this really is the Dark of the Moon when no part of the Moon is visible, if it’s possible you might want to turn off your light and close your curtains to get you into the right space in your mind.

OK Let’s Get Started

First, how did last month go? It was the New Moon Solar Eclipse in Scorpio – anything about the last month you’d like to share?

For me: Over the past month in my life, my practice has really started to take on a different feel… it’s more intense and it’s building very quickly now. That’s really been my focus the past 28 days and it’s paying off. Where I felt a little blocked prior the recent eclipses – I feel that now the path has really been opened.

If you want to see the New Moon chart that I’m using, which is drawn for Dec. 13, 2012 at 3:42 AM, the moment of the New Moon, go to www.michellegregg.com and click on the very happy winter cartoon that you see at the upper left side. The article says Food for Thought. If you open that and scroll down, you’ll see the key phrases that I sent out earlier today that are relevant to this New Moon and then below those you’ll see the New Moon Chart. If you click the chart it will get bigger and easier to see. It’s drawn for no particular place, an Aries Wheel, so it’s good for where ever you are.

A little bit about how the New Moon works

The New Moon, any New Moon, is a time for regenerating and restoring your spirit and seeding new ideas. So all of the things that we talk about in the next hour are places to seed these new ideas. The New Moon is a time to relax and connect with your subconscious self and your creativity. This is the time when we can’t see any moon in the sky at all, leaving us in a very fertile darkness as we prepare for the next cycle of the moon through the sky. It’s a new beginning because it’s the time when the moon and sun are together – the core-self represented by the sun and the instincts and emotions represented by the moon, are feeding each other. They’re communicating – they have much in common because they are in the same sign.

And the New Moon chart sets the stage for the next 28 day cycle – it’s the imprint of what we can expect and how we can best move forward EMOTIONALLY for the next month.

I’m looking at this month’s New Moon chart with a particular eye toward the Sun and Moon in Sagittarius. This Sagittarius energy is pretty pure – the Moon has been void for most of the day, meaning that it doesn’t connect with any other planets. And because the Sun and Moon come right together during the New Moon, the Sun isn’t making any connections to other planets either. Or they weren’t. I think the Moon made its first aspect, which was a sextile to Neptune at about 5:45 this evening. That should lend us a very nice, dreamy quality for the meditation in a little while.

This New Moon in Sagittarius, asks us to meet the coming month with faith! It asks us to open ourselves up to the possibility of a bright future… Sagittarius energy is very future oriented. So my feeling on the idea that the world is ending and everything is all doom and gloom is beautifully off-set and denied by this gorgeous Sag optimism.

What do you think of when you think of Sagittarius?

I am a Sagittarius, so I might be too close to all of this. Not only do I have the sun in Sag, I have Mercury, Venus and Mars in Sag too!

So what I’m thinking is this is our month not to worry… Sagittarius energy is not a worrier. It doesn’t dwell on possible negative outcomes or what happened in the past. It wants to get on with building the happiest possible future, have as much fun as possible while doing, bring as many people as possible along for the ride, and believe that life is going to support us!!

And I gotta say – that’s pretty much how I have lived most of my life. Sound scary to some of you?

So this month, as far as I can see, which hopefully like that gorgeous Centaur drawing back his bow is pretty far – as far as I can see for the next 28 days we are meant to focus on the happy future that we want to create and start galloping in that direction.

Now there are some common Saggy pitfalls to be aware of:

1. If you’ve got yourself focused on running ahead toward the future, you might miss the hole in the ground that’s right in front of you – you might gracelessly stumble and even fall. Brush off, see what the trouble is, figure out what you can do about it, and then grab hold of your faith and head forward again. Don’t let the pot hole change your course… do let it give you pause and time for a little reflection.

2. You might think that everyone else wants to hear everything that you’ve got to say about your vision of the future and what it should be. Just remember – maybe they do and that’s wonderful. Maybe they don’t… so don’t forget to check that there is in fact some appreciation in response to your vision before you carry on. Sag energy can get a little carried away with its own ideals and its own importance. So smile and move to your next victim if you can tell they don’t want to hear it. Better to expend your energy on those happy to be inspired.

3. Overwhelm and overextension… Sag energy is big and bold and pretty fearless because it has so much faith that everything is going to fine and that failure is not an option. So Sag can be a yes man – and saying yes too many times without consulting your calendar can get you into trouble. So can doing too much or going forward too fast… so be careful.

Basically, what I’m saying by spouting all of this stuff that you probably already know about Sag energy, is that this month it is okay – nay expected – for you to depend on grace and faith and hope and love and set your foot forward with confidence toward a better future – whatever that better future that you envision for yourself might be.

Where this New Moon falls within your birth chart will give you clues as to where this expansion and new growth will take place – and how you’re pre-disposed to optimistic energy in the first place will also go a long way in understanding whether you’ll be able to go whole hog with this – or take baby steps.

It doesn’t matter. Anything that takes you out and away from where you are now toward something that is lighter and brighter is using the energy well.

Do this on purpose this month. Get out of your comfort zone. Listen to the call of the wild. Put your inherent gifts to use and listen to the voice in your head and your heart – they are your intuition and they know what you’re supposed to be doing. They are your vision. They are very WISE. And you know what? Creativity is WISE. It can be scary and dangle us outside our comfort zone – that is true. But real creativity from our intuitive vision is WISE and will not steer us wrong.

So – get out there and move forward with your gifts. They are only gifts if you GIVE THEM.

Okay – so here are some Sagittarius keywords and words phrases – and you guys feel free to throw some out there too as you think of them:

Some of these are positive and some are challenging… meaning that Sagittarius energy, like all other energies, has a high vibration and a low vibration and everything in between. And, as I always say, you get to choose which way you want to vibrate with it.

I do want to say a little bit about the fact that the Sun and Moon this morning at the New Moon were conjunct to the asteroid we call Juno.

Juno/Hera was the wife of Jupiter/Zeus… so we have the marriage of Sagittarius energy, which is ruled by Jupiter, involved in a committed relationship with his wife in mythology.

Juno represents our ability to commit to something… so I’m thinking that with the Sun and Moon closely connected to her in Sagittarius, this truly is a time when we can make a commitment to our vision for the future – and have it pan out. Whenever we are committed to something, and I mean truly committed, things begin to happen to us and around us that supports us in that commitment.

I know you’re familiar with this quote, but both in terms of Sagittarius energy which begs us to boldly go for our dreams, and in terms of Juno which begs us to make a commitment, I thought it appropriate to bring it up. It is actually one of my favorite quotes of all time. And while it has been attributed to Goethe, I’ve come to understand that it was probably actually said by a great adventurer named W. H. Murray in The Scottish Himalaya Expedition back in the 1950’s as a sort of paraphrase to a verse found in Geothe’s Faust. And how appropriate is it that we’re quoting a great adventurer during a New Moon in Sagittarius? This great adventurer, mountain climber said:

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:

Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!'”

So that’s the flavor of the month kids… dream big, use your intuition and trust it! And then boldly go forth with faith and commitment and make those dreams happen.

I posted a list of key phrases that are relevant to today’s New Moon energy earlier in the day, so let’s touch on those for a few minutes. They are:

I think most of what I’ve talked about already covers them, but please share your thoughts on these phrases with us… anyone?

We’re doing something different tonight. Because it’s the holiday season, I wanted to do something holiday-y so I hope you won’t mind my digression from form. Normally I write the meditation that we use, but this evening I want to use a meditation that is very special to me. I really just felt like I have to share it – it’s not necessarily about the New Moon or Sagittarius energy per se – but I think you’ll understand that it is appropriate as you experience it. It’s called The Sun at Midwinter: A Meditation and it was written by John Matthews and is published in his book called The Winter Solstice – The Sacred Traditions of Christmas. And we’ll get to that in just a minute.

First, here’s another twist for tonight that I’ve never done before – before we do this amazing meditation I want to read you yet a different piece. I have no idea who wrote this one. I found it earlier today on-line and whoever posted it said they found it on a website called magickalenchantments.blogspot.com – But I went to that website and didn’t see it there. So I have no one to attribute this to.

I get a little choked up at the end, so hopefully I can get through this without embarrassing myself.

It’s called Twas the Night Before Yuletide.

Here goes:

Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen. A mantle of snow shone brightly that night As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.

The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees, Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze. The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows, Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.

When low! the earth moved with a thunderous quake, Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break. The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet Then raced to the river where they usually meet.

“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed, As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed. “What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?” They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.

Then what to their wondering eyes should appear But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere. It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye, Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.

Before they could murmur, before they could bustle, There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle, A stately old crone with her hand on a cane, Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.

As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume, Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom, Made each of the fey folk think of the spring When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.

“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed, “I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget, that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…” “I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells, The air isn’t filled with fragrant smells Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews, Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”

“There aren’t any children at play in the snow, Or houses lit up by candles’ glow. Have you forgotten, my children, the fun Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”

She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round, As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground. Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day, “Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”

They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly, Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly. They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang. They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.

They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry, In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry. They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats, Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.

Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest, Before they went homeward to seek out their rest, The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.

They were just reaching home when suddenly it came, The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame. It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar The golden-like sphere turned into a star.

The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight, “Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”

The best way to engage in this experience is to sit comfortably upright with your bare feet on the ground or the floor, with closed eyes and an open heart and an open mind.

Relax your face. Smile and release any tension there. Relax your shoulders. Gently lift them and let them fall into a comfortable place. Shake your arms and hands lightly and then allow them to become comfortable and loose, resting your hands in your lap. Breathe deeply into your torso and as you breathe out twist easily and gently from side to side, then come to center and settle into an easy position. Now gently shake your legs and move them from side to side for a couple of breaths, then bring them to stillness, releasing any tension in them… just let them relax and become heavy. Now lift your feet a little and wiggle your toes and circle your ankles and let them come to rest, planting them firmly on the floor again, knees bent and wide, easily supporting your relaxed legs. Breathe very deeply, in and out, at a natural and comfortable rate.

Even gentle breaths – getting deeper and deeper as you relax.

Breathing slowly, slowing your heart rate. In. Out. In. Out.

Now the darkness behind your eyelids is growing even darker. Darker with every breath.

Ok! That’s it then. I hope you’ll take this meditation with you into your daily lives this month and please come back to it on my website again and again – whenever you feel like you need a Soul boost.

And I’d love to help you with a consultation this month – so please be in touch about that. Remember that you get 20% for being here on the call with me tonight.

I’m delighted to let you know that Mercury is going Direct in Scorpio today as of 5:48 PM Eastern Time. I can hear you shouting “Yay!!” as you jump up and down… No more Mercury Retrograde until February 23, 2013! I’m saying that just as a reminder that Mercury turning Retrograde is a very regular cycle in our lives that occurs every 3 months – 4 times a year – and it stays Retrograde 3 weeks each time. This is an example of the natural inhale and exhale, ebb and flow of life – of two steps forward, one step back, of needing rest after forward motion. Learning to move gracefully and fully engaged with that cycle is a terrific goal to have. (See my article “Mercury Retrograde: The Unlikely Healing Gift” for insights on that.)

This Mercury Retrograde for me has actually been quite smooth and fruitful… perhaps that’s the result of consciously working in accordance with the energy, or maybe, I’ve just been lucky this past 3 weeks. Trust me – I’ve had my share of truly DOOZIE Mercury Retrogrades! Whatever the reason for the ease of this one, I’m looking forward to the next 3 months as Mercury moves forward to see what will bloom fresh and new in my mind and how I will determine to express it to others.

Time-lapse image showing Retrograde motion in space.

Bear in mind that we will be in the “shadow” of Mercury Retrograde until Dec. 14. This simply means that Mercury goes back over the same degrees of theZodiacit covered while it was going backwards, until it ends up where it started. During this time, the next 19 days, you might expect whatever came up during the Retrograde to resurface. (For this kind of retrospective, it’s helpful to know what degrees of Scorpio andSagittariusthe Retrograde covered – it began at 4 degrees of Sagittarius and moved back to 18 degrees of Scorpio – and where those degrees are in yourbirth chart– and what days over the past 3 weeks specific things happened. Always helpful to keep a journal for things like this so you can look back and find patterns or witness lessons learned or simply life experienced.)

I love watching annual trends with these kinds of Cosmic escapades. Last year, 2011, Mercury went Retrograde onThanksgivingDay. This year, 2012, on Thanksgiving we were in the throes of Mercury Retrograde – just a few days before the end of it. And next year Mercury Retrograde will be over almost 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. But we’ll have a Retrograde Halloween! That sounds like the perfect time to communicate (Mercury) with those already gone before us (Retrograde).

Have fun in your forward journey all!

NOTE: Here’s a wonderful video that shows Mercury Retrograde motion astronomically – a space view of how we see Mercury Retrograde. Fabulous!

From the YouTube Video explanation:

Please watch in Full screen HD-mode! This animation shows from GEOCENTRIC point of view (Earth’ observer) how the innermost planet Mercury moves on its small orbit direct, than suddenly appears to move retrograde (backwards) and turns direct again. The red grid marks the ecliptical plane, in which the Sun and most planets move more or less. The figures indicate the 30° intersection of the ecliptical grid, so 0° longitude is the beginning at the vernal equinox = 0° Aries, Every further 30° step is the next astrological (tropical) sign of the zodiac, so e.g. 30°-60° = Taurus, 60°-90° = Gemini and so on. The movement for Mercury is shown for 2009 and 2010 covering two of its retrograde periods, which take about three weeks and occur four times every Earth year. Mercury’s orbit is shown in orange colour (ellipse). The panel on the left corner is in German and displays the calendar date of the animation. The timestep is 1 day per trail and computation. This is how the apparent retrograde motion of planets actually appears and happens. Stars and other planets are excluded in this animation. The animation was generated with Redshift 7 Premium by USM Media. More explanations will be inserted into the animation soon.

Venus is reflecting on her own image – via a mirror being held up to her by Cupid – or Love. What reflections have you made during Venus Retrograde that YOU can move forward with now that VENUS is moving forward?

Venus begins her forward motion today, having appeared to be traveling backwards since May 15, 2012. Yay!

We’ve had a full 6 weeks (and the spectacular Transit of Venus across the Sun) to come back to right relationship with our loved ones, our resources (money!) and our values. Maybe we’ve felt a little estranged from love, beauty and appreciation during this time (especially Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius & Pisces). Maybe a close relationship has come up for inspection and failed to pass muster, or the shadow nature of it has been exposed to work on. Maybe the darker side of intimacy came up for air. Maybe you just haven’t felt very social… or if you’re an artist of any kind, perhaps your work has taken an unexpected turn and deeper material was exposed.

What have you learned? What have you processed about the way you approach, receive, and share love? How have your more feminine desires made themselves felt and understood? What has come up to be processed about your creativity – your artistic nature? What happened to help you look at money, investments, and your resources differently?

Venus moving forward means that we can get our beauty groove back on… we can see the light of love once again. Look for a real solution/resolution after August 1 when Venus travels forward over the 23rd degree of Gemini – where she was when she began her backwards travel.

And remember that Venus is in Gemini (as was the Retrograde and the Transit of Venus). So the workings of your mind are involved here – how you process, how you think, how you communicate all things Venus – that’s right LOVE, RELATIONSHIP, MONEY, RESOURCES, BEAUTY, WHAT PLEASES YOU – PLEASURE, WHAT YOU FIND BEAUTIFUL. Ponder, ponder, ponder where the past 6 weeks have taken you with respect to thinking about, understanding and expressing yourself around these ideas, these parts of yourself.

Feel appreciation! Venus is back on track, and all that walked in the shadow can come out into full light again.

If you have a Venus Retrograde or a Transit of Venus story, I’d love to hear it! Venus IS direct now – time to share!

Please See My Related articles – More About Venus and the Meaning of the Transit of Venus. Enjoy!

AND whether male or female, allowing your inner feminine to emerge fully formed and functional.

These four events mean that we are living in a rare moment in time – a moment when a great shift is happening around us, through us and inside us. It is a shift toward more love, more compassion, and more forgiveness – if that is what you intend. If that is what we intend together. If you believe… if you trust. If we believe and trust together. If we grasp the knowledge and distill the wisdom from it.

It is a shift integrating the Mind with the Soul – and I mean this both as a personal evolution for you as well as a social and cultural one. We are moving from the cold region of science as God (a masculine mind-set), to a warmer climate that balances science with faith, intuition, love, beauty and wisdom of the heart and Nature, and the needs and desires of the Soul (a feminine mind-set).

They say that very long ago in a misty, green and fertile world humans lived in a Matriarchy, where Nature and the Great Mother ruled supreme.

In the past few thousand years, we have lived and still live in a Patriarchy, where Science and the Great Father reign supreme.

This moment in time is part of the shift of finally integrating both worlds, masculine and feminine, if we are wise enough to co-create with the energies that are offered.

We have, since the dawn of the Industrial and Technological Revolutions, elevated science to such a status that we metaphorically swallowed our more instinctive, more natural, more feminine natures whole, leaving them in the darkness of our subconsiousness, so that we could pursue the masculine mental world of tearing things apart to label them and better understand how everything works.

We find a wonderful correlation in ancient Greek Mythology. Zeus (known to the Romans as Jupiter and the ruler of Sagittarius in the astrological world) swallowed his wife Metis and their child Athena. Metis and Athena (both women) represented Wisdom – and until Zeus swallowed them (out of fear of being overthrown and in his blindness to the reality of his situation) he had not incorporated Wisdom internally. But after he swallowed them, he gave birth to Athena fully formed from the top of his head (both a mind and spirit point of the body), and was forever afterward known as a God of Wisdom – integrating what he hadn’t had before.

My point here is that it was only after a period of darkness (Metis and Athena within the tomb of Zeus’s body) and an out-of-balance period of time (a god lacking Wisdom), that true Wisdom was allowed to be born and lived out. Once Wisdom was taken internally – digested and understood – it could then be born through the mind with clarity and full functionality through a feminine form. Back in balance.

Beautiful yes?

How does this story relate to Venus Retrograde, the Solar Eclipse in Gemini, the Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius and the Transit of Venus?

May 20, 2012 New Moon Solar Eclipse in Gemini: Endings and new beginnings around the mind, and the solar aspects of humanity, i.e. the masculine, thinking, analyzing, processing aspects. Bringing forward the dark feminine inner world as the Moon (women, mother) blocks the face of the Sun (authority, ego, Father.) I view Eclipses as portals that we can step through – a period of opportunity for transformation and during which the actions of processing and integrating change move faster than usual.

June 4, 2012 Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius: the Earth’s shadow across the Moon symbolizes integration of the polar opposites of male (Sun) and female (Moon). Lunar Eclipses and Full Moons are largely about relationship (of all kinds) and integrating them in a more balanced way. This one highlights our mental attitudes toward relationship and provides us with the opportunity to evolve into deeper wisdom within them. It opens us to a greater understanding and acceptance of “otherness.”
(Listen to or read my Full Moon Lunar Eclipse Meditation here.)

June 5/6 2012 Transit of Venus across the Face of the Sun: Venus, as she retrogresses, is “swallowed” by the Sun as she crosses directly in its path. Then as Venus continues to backtrack farther and farther away from the Sun and deeper into darkness over the next 3 weeks (until she moves direct on June 27) we are fully in a gestation period – or a time of digesting the symbolism of the ultimate feminine: of love, harmony, grace, beauty, unconditional love, forgiveness and compassion. The hope is that upon Venus’s return to direct motion, after the dark gestation period, we will more fully live from the newly integrating feminine and loving qualities that Venus represents.

These 4 events are energetic opportunities to move in a very wonderful and much needed direction.

I don’t believe that we will all suddenly live in Utopia where everyone loves and understands all other people, and lambs will lie down with lions without fear. This is a process – and one that we have been on for many years already. We are steadily moving toward a time when the role of human beings and the way we relate to one another culturally, socially and politically is different than it has been for a VERY long time. And we are also steadily moving toward a time when we relate to the Earth, our Mother, in a more conscious and evolved way. We can view this moment in time as a birth pang or a contraction in the birth process of a new era for humanity. It won’t happen overnight and it won’t happen without more labor pains – yet there is something rare and beautiful about the potential that is surrounding us right now and into the next few months. Fortunately, the effects of an eclipse season are often felt and results seen months and even years into the future. I believe the same is true for the effects of the Transit of Venus.

I do believe that this moment in time will get us closer to a more loving, more peaceful existence with each other, especially if we take the opportunity to move and evolve with the energy around us. That means focused intention – consciously projecting love, acceptance, harmony and peace into our personal lives and into the greater world. And also consciously asking for greater wisdom in understanding others and in our relationships, both personal and with the world at large.

I also believe that women as a whole will move more into the forefront of the movement of change and transformation that we are undergoing. And I think that can only be a good thing.

So, I implore you, don’t let this amazing opportunity pass by without co-creating MORE LOVE! Think and intend and open your hearts, and then project it all forward and outward. The time for greater love is now.

Post navigation

Astrology with Michelle Gregg

Thank you for visiting! I'm Michelle Gregg, Counseling Astrologer and I'm ready to explore the energy of you - your potentials, challenges, purpose and where you are right now to guide you toward clarity and living your greatest joy. My work is a healing journey on psychological, emotional and spiritual levels. To schedule a consultation and to learn more email Astrology@MichelleGregg.com